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With my new Apple bought in NYC!

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I said “generally not very multiculturally accepting”, not “all-you-Middle-Easterners”.

Yes, I know you didnt say it. But the ambiguity inherent in the statement “Yes, you Middle Easterners are generally not very multiculturally accepting.” is what gives rise to the ‘spin’ on a normally neutral observation. And in this case, negative spin.

“you Middle Easterners” is what? All of us? Some of us? Few of us? Politicians? People in the street? People over 40? Hairstylists? What?

“generally not very multiculturally accepting” means what? What does it mean to generally-not-be-very- multiculturally-accepting? Does it mean you balk at the sight of a foreign tribe member? Does it mean you do not deal with people of other cultures at all? Does it mean you deal with them but deal with them badly? Does it mean you talk behind their backs?

Just about all possibilities are negative statements, even though we deal with our multitude of ethnicities and cultures amongst ourselves all the time, on personal and social levels. (In your own words, “contra-factual”).

This is why it is important to be very specific in matters such as this.

But in any case, I agree with you that it would help a lot of more people (including politicians) were more accepting of other cultures, sects of whatnot. A stronger sense of local or national identity would help. Mahmood’s slogan “Just Bahraini” works toward that end because it downplays sectarian differences and emphasizes local identity.

Yup.

-Ibn

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I didn’t know that there was another article in the FT. I’ll go on the web and check. Post a link just in case if you can.

thanks

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Why don’t you put up the link for the FT article (p7) from yesterday’s edition —- things are looking too bright.

I’m stuck in London and missing Bahrain a lot.

Johnster

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